Tree and brush cutter.



R; L. ANDREWS THEE AND BRUSH OUTTEB. APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 5, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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R; L. ANDREWS.

TREE AND BRUSH BUTTER.

APPLICATION PILLDAUG. 5, 1910.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awe/Mom THE MORRIS PETERS ca, WASHIQIGTON, n. c.

ROBERT LYLE ANDREWS 0F BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

TREE AND BRUSH CUTTER.

To all whom it may conccgn:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. ANDREWS, a citizen of the United States 'of America, residing at Beaumont, in the county of Jefferson and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tree and Brush Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for cutting trees, brush and the like, and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved portable apparatus which may be conveniently and eificientlyused for the purposes indicated.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a simple portable apparatus equipped with tree and brush cutting means which shall be operable by power derived from a mechanical motor.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the general construction and-operation of a device of the character set forth.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same con sists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings hasbeen illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein'exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is aside elevation of'a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan detail view showing a portion of the operating mechanism. Fig. t is a sectional. detail view taken on the line 4& in Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The improvedmachine includes a frame structure A suitably supported' upon front and rear axles B, C having-carrying Wheels D and E; A draft tongue F is suitably connected with the front truck in order to enable the machine to be propelledby animal power. It is, however, desired to be understood that a mechanical motor of any suit- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14., 1911.

Application filed August 5, 1910. Serial No. 575,816.

able kind may be used for propelling the vehicle formed by the wheel supported frame.

,The frame A may be and is preferably constructed of structural steel or iron in such a manner as to insure combined lightness and strength.

Suitably supported upon the frame A is an inclined guideway 1 which is reinforced and firmly supported by means of braces 2, 2. The guideway, in order to be success ful for the purpose of this invention, must be inclined at an angle of approximately 4.5 degrees to the horizon, and as it is desirable that said guideway should be of considerable length, in order to bring the upper end thereof to a suitable'elevation, and as it is, furthermore, desirable that the supporting frame A should be comparatively narrow in order that said frame may be readily trans ported in localities that are obstructed by trees, shrubs and the like, it will be seen that said guideway when mounted will overhang both sides of the frame A, one end being carried to within a short distance of the ground, while the opposite end is elevated a considerable distance above the carrying frame and disposed to overhang the opposite side of said frame, as far as may be required. The side members of the inclined guideway are provided with guide flanges 8, 3. A slide l is movably supported by the guide flanges 3 near the lower end of the guideway, said slide being provided with a shank 5 carrying a chisel or cutting member 6 which may be of any desired construction and configuration. The slide 4 is also provided with a loop 7 for engagement with a hook 8 carried by one end of a flexible element 9 which is guided over a sheave 10 adjacent to the upper end of the guideway. and from thence over suitably arranged pulleys or guide members 11 to a drum 12 with which the end of said flexible element is connected.

The guide flanges 3 support near the upper end of the inclined guideway a slide 13 carrying a weight or hammer 14 adapted. to strike the upper extremity of the shank 5 of the slide 4. A flexible element 15 connected at one end with the slide 13 is guided over a sheave 16 adjacent to the upper end of the guideway, and thence over suitably disposed guide members, such as pulleys 11, to a drum 17 with which the other end of the flexible element is connected.

The drums 12 and 17 are supported for retation upon shafts 12, 17 which are mounted in suitable bearings, said shafts being provided with band wheels 18, 19 which are firmly keyed thereon and which receive motion by means of belts or bearings 20, 21 from the driven shaft 22 of a suitable mechanical motor M, such as a 'asolene engine which is supported upon the rame A. Each of the shafts 12 and 17 carries a clutch, preferably a friction clutch, as shown at 23, each of said clutches being operable by a shipping lever 24, whereby it may be thrown into or out of engagement with the adjacent drum. It will be understood that other clutch means may be used within the scope of the invention, the specific clutch structure being not herein claimed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

. The vehicle or wheel supported frame may be readily placed in the desired position, and the chisel carryingslidc may be then lowered until it engages the trunk of the tree or of the brush which it is desired to cut, the engagement being either above or below the ground, as may be desired. By actuating the clutch cooperating with the drum 17 the flexible element 15 will be wound upon the latter, thus elevating the weight carrying slide 13 to the desired point when, by releasing the clutch, the weight will drop and strike a powerful blow upon the shank of the chisel which will thus be operated to cut into the wood in engagement with which it has been placed. The blows may be repeated until the tree trunk or the brush has been cut through. The clutch cooperating with the drum 12 may now be thrown into operation, thus causing said drum to be rotated to wind the flexible element 9, thereby hoisting the chiselcarrying slide .to a convenient position above the ground to enable the machine to be transported to the next station where it is to be operated.

As herein previously stated, the machine may be drawn by horse power, or it may be propelled by power derived from the motor lVI or from any other suitable mechanical motor means. The general construction of the improved machine is simple and inexpensive, and the said machine has proven in practice to be thoroughly eflicient for the purposes for which it is provided, especially for cutting small trees and exterminating brush in clearing land.

I am aware that rock breaking machines have been constructed wherein chisels or rock breaking tools have been operated by the impact of weight or hammer traveling upon a vertical guideway in a manner of a pile driver. I am also aware that machines for driving posts or piles have been constructed in which the guideway carrying the hammer has been adapted to be slightly tilted, such. machines, however, being operated without a chisel or cutting tool. Machines constructed on the lines of these devices would be incapable of performing the work performed by my improved machine. This is due to the fact that in order to cut trees, shrubs and the like, the cutting tool must be operated at an angle nearly approximating 45 degrees to the horizon. If such a machine is to be mounted upon a portable platform, it is absolutely necessary and essential that the guideway must overhang both sides of such platform. By this and other structural features the present invention is clearly distinguished from rock crushing and pile driving machines in ordinary use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a tree and brush cutting machine, a carrying platform, an inclined guideway supported upon and overhanging both sides of the platform, a chisel carrying slide movable thereon, and a weight carrying slide movable above the chisel carrying slide.

2-. In a tree and brush cutting machine, a carrying platform, an inclined guideway supported upon and overhanging both sides of the platform, a chisel carrying slide movable therein, a weight carrying slide movable above the chisel carrying slide and adapted to impact upon the latter, and means for hoisting and releasing the chisel carrying slide and the weight carrying slide independently of one another. a

3. A tree and brush cutting device including a carrying platform, an inclined guideway supported upon and overhanging the two sides of the platform, a. chisel carrying member, a movably supported weight carrying member adapted to impact upon the chisel carrying .member, and mechanical means for elevating the weight carrying member to a proper height and then releasing the same to permit it to drop by gravity.

4. A tree and brush cutting device includ ing a carrying platform, an inclined guideway supported-upon and overhanging the two sides of the platform, a chisel carrying member, guiding and supporting means for the same, means for raising and lowering said chisel carrying member, a suitably guided weight carrying slide adapted to impact upon the chisel carrying member,- and means for elevating said weight carrying slide toa desired height and then releasing the same to permit it to drop by gravity.

5. A tree and brush cutting device including a carrying frame, an inclined guide-way mounted thereon andove-rhanging both sides of the frame, a chisel carrying slide movable upon the guideway, means for raising and lowering said slide, a weight carrying slide movable upon the guideway above the chisel carrying slide, and mechanical means suitably guided flexible element connecting for raislng suld Weight carrying sllde to a one drum with the chisel carrying slide, and desired height and for releasing the same to a suitably gulded flexible element connecting 15 permit it to drop by gravity. the other drum with the Weight carrying 5 6. In a tree and brush cutting device, a slide.

. wheeled supporting frame, an inclined In testimony whereof I aflix my signature guideway supported tlfierecn undli ovlerha-ng in presence of two witnesses.

in both sic es of the rzune, a c iise. carry- 1 in? slide and it Weight carrying slide mov- ROBERFI LYLE ANDREVVS" 10 able upon said guidewuy, a pair of drums, Vitnesses:

mechanical means for rotating the drums in- C. GRAY,

eluding lever actuated clutch members, a I W. B. GREEVEs. 

